Missing girl, 17, suffered knife injury in back of police van

A 17-YEAR-OLD girl who went missing with a 45-year-old library assistant suffered a knife injury to her neck in the back of a police van after they were found at a railway station.

Stuart Lymer and the teenager had been missing for three days when they were discovered in Perth on Monday.

They were being taken by van to a nearby police headquarters when there was an incident, during which they both sustained injuries.

Police in Staffordshire had previously issued an appeal to trace the pair, who are being treated at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. The girl is understood to have been injured on the neck, but her wounds and those of the man are not thought to be life threatening.

Police said the pair were expected to appear in court over the coming days, but refused to confirm the charges they will face.

Assist Chief Constable John Hawkins said: “Following an incident yesterday within a police vehicle in Perth, a 45-year-old man and 17-year-old woman have been arrested.

“Both are currently undergoing treatment at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee as a result of injuries sustained during the incident at Perth.”

The case has been referred to the police watchdog, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

A spokesman for the commissioner said: “We can confirm that we have received a referral from Police Scotland in relation to the serious injury of a 17-year-old woman and 45-year-old man who were being transferred in a police vehicle to Perth Police Office on 5 March, 2018.

“Our investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Staffordshire Police said it was liaising with colleagues north of the border.